Hanshin Notes: GG Sato, Brazell

by Patrick Newman (Jun 9, 2009)

Here's an interesting rumor: Sanspo is reporting that Hanshin wants to acquire Seibu's GG Sato.
I would be pretty surprised if this happened, not only because I don't
know if Sato is expendable for the Lions or if Hanshin is willing to
give up what it would take to him, but also because only Sanspo is
reporting this. Sanspo is probably the most gossipy of the sports
papers I pay the most attention to, so I've learned to take this type
of news from them with a grain or two of salt.

Still, I'm putting it up here because it begs a question of my more
knowledgable readers: has a "blockbuster" trade ever happened in-season
in NPB? Of the very few recent in-season trades I can recall off the
top of my head, none have involved regular players. Can anyone think of
one?

Meanwhile, Craig Brazell has gone 6/14 in his first
four games with Hanshin, three of which the Tigers have won. I got to
see a couple of his at bats over the weekend, and looked remarkably
comforable at the plate considering he was just off the plane and had
been in the Northern League. Even been for Hanshin is that the Brazell
replica jersey is flying off the shelves at the Koshien Tigers Shop. Of the 22 player jerseys available, only Brazell's is selling out.